Stay Out! Stay Alive!
Near MissesIncidents that could have resulted in a fatality, but did not.

August 2, 2010
Man Rescued After Falling Into Mine Crater

A man in his late fifties was rescued this morning in satisfactory condition from a mineshaft at Aden Crater near Las Cruces by members of the U.S. Border Patrol's Search, Rescue and Trauma (BORSTAR) team.

At approximately 11 p.m. Sunday a dispatch was received from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) radio communications team in Las Cruces saying that a man may have fallen into the crater while rappelling. The dispatcher said the call came from his son, saying he could no longer feel tension on the rope that his dad was using to rappel. He had called out to his father but had gotten no response.

Two BORSTAR agents from a nearby traffic checkpoint responded. An Air and Marine (OAM) helicopter was also dispatched to assist. The pilot said the fallen hiker was spotted in a cave approximately four-feet by 100-feet. When rescuers got to him, he had contusions to the body and he complained of back pain. BORSTAR agents immobilized the man on a litter in preparation for his extraction from the shaft. Agents prepared a landing site for the air ambulance while treating the injured subject.

An American Medical Services (AMS) aircraft was summoned and arrived at the scene. The injured man was loaded and taken to University Medical Center for additional treatment. Initial reports indicate the man did not have life threatening injuries.